What’s next for Will Wade, Javonte Smart and the LSU basketball team?

There is no timeline regarding a possible return to the LSU sideline for indefinitely suspended LSU basketball coach Will Wade, nor for freshman guard Javonte Smart, who has been benched since Saturday, though LSU officials have more answers about the latter.

Wade’s attorney, according to a report from the Advocate, sent a letter to LSU on Tuesday (March 12). That letter reportedly said that Wade is open to discussing the allegations, but that wouldn’t be until after the federal investigation into corruption in college basketball finishes. The upcoming trial, for which Wade is reportedly being subpoenaed, begins April 22.

The timing for Wade is “completely up to Will,” LSU senior associate athletic director Robert Munson told NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune in a phone call Wednesday. “If Will decides to come talk to us today, then that door is open. ... We will welcome that conversation."

Munson said he hasn’t seen the letter and doesn’t know the contents other than the previously discussed timing of a possible conversation.

On Thursday (March 7), Wade and his counsel originally agreed to meet with LSU officials and NCAA investigators Friday in the wake of the media reports alleging his recruiting misconduct.

LSU wanted a representative from the NCAA present at the meeting, Ernie Ballard, LSU’s director for media relations, told NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune on Wednesday (March 13), and conveyed that to Wade and his counsel.

On Friday, Wade’s lawyer contacted LSU to say that meeting would no longer be taking place.

“Our understanding is that they declined the meeting when we wouldn’t do it without a representative from NCAA being involved and that we wouldn’t limit the scope of the questioning,” Ballard said. “His attorney was more than welcome to participate in any meeting with administration and Wade.”

Munson added: “It wasn’t a contentious thing either. It was just, ‘Based on whatever, we’re not going to meet at this point.' It wasn’t a no-show.”

NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune has reached out to speak with Wade’s legal team, but they weren’t immediately available for comment.

The NCAA has not yet officially launched its investigation into Wade because no conversations have yet taken place between the two parties, Munson said.

“They’re obviously well aware of the situation,” Munson said of the NCAA.

Munson said the NCAA is involved with an inquiry into Smart, and has been assisting in that investigation since Friday.

LSU released a statement Saturday that Smart would sitting out the Vanderbilt game.

“This is done only in an abundance of caution and as a result of the lack of clarity provided regarding media reports and reported wiretaps involving Head Coach Will Wade," the statement read. “This decision does not suggest, in any way, wrongdoing or knowledge of wrongdoing on Javonte’s part or his family.”

Munson said there are “clear connections” between the investigation into Smart and a potential investigation into Wade, but LSU hasn’t yet received Wade’s explanation.

Smart, as well as his mother Melinda, have been interviewed by LSU and NCAA investigators regarding Thursday’s reports that allege Smart was compensated for coming to LSU.

“The timing on Javonte is unknown at this point, but we would obviously hope to hear something before tip-off Friday,” Munson said.

Smart has gone through practice like normal and will travel to Nashville with the team for the SEC Tournament. LSU tips off in its first game of the tourney Friday at noon.

Smart was a top-50 recruit coming out of Scotlandville High School.

The Yahoo and ESPN reports detail a 2017 phone conversation between Wade and recently convicted former Adidas consultant Christian Dawkins recorded by the FBI that includes Wade openly speaking about a “strong-ass offer” he made in the recruitment of a player. That player is believed to be Smart.

“Dude,” Wade reportedly said to Dawkins on a wiretapped phone call while referring to the third party involved in the recruitment. “I went to him with a [expletive] strong-ass offer about a month ago. [Expletive] strong.”

LSU officials met with the Advocate for an editorial board meeting on Wednesday. Tom Skinner, LSU’s general counsel and vice president for legal affairs told the Advocate that the university identified two other people who might be the unnamed third party referenced in the wiretapped calls. Skinner told the Advocate that both of those people agreed to talk to LSU.

In another telephone call with Dawkins, according to ESPN, Wade joked that the player, again believed to be Smart, would be compensated more than the “rookie minimum.”

Wade told Dawkins that he had made deals for “as good of players as him” that were “a lot simpler than this.”